SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III has called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strictly monitor the prices of goods during the holiday season, especially in-demand Noche Buena items for Christmas day.
Pimentel said the DTI should immediately act against companies that would be found to be involved in price manipulation.
He also reminded sellers to follow the suggested retail price set by the DTI and urged the public not to hesitate to report to authorities companies or traders who raise the costs of Noche Buena products.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is reminding private sector employers of the pay rules for the holiday season.
Pursuant to Proclamation No. 368, Series of 2023, for December 24 (Christmas Eve) and 31 (New Year’s Eve), if the employee does not work, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special non-working day.
For the regular holidays of December 25 (Christmas Day) and 30 (Rizal Day), if the employee does not work, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s wage for that day.
For work done during the regular holiday, the employer shall pay a total of 200 percent of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work.
For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage of 200 percent, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work. — Raymond Africa and Gerard Naval
